Joshua Compston

Joshua Compston (June 1, 1970 – March 5, 1996) was a London gallerist whose space, Factual Nonsense, was closely associated with the emergence of the Young British Artists (YBAs).

Life and work

Joshua Compston graduated from the Courtauld Institute of Art in 1992. Interest in the YBAs was growing, but there was a shortage of established dealers, and Compston opened Factual Nonsense at 44a Charlotte Road in Hoxton, which had become the centre of the emerging YBA scene.

Compston worked with many of the leading artists of the second wave of the YBA movement including Tracey Emin, and organised an annual fete in Hoxton Square. He did not have the financial backing to sign the artists to secure contracts, and, as they became successful, his artists often moved on to other dealers, notably Jay Jopling.

Lack of money and seeing the YBA artists that he had nurtured leave him contributed to a downward spiral of drug abuse, which ultimately led to his death. Compston died of an accidental ether overdose. His funeral was attended by several hundred mourners including many leading figures of the London art scene.

ee also

*Young British Artists
*London art scene
*Darren Coffield

External links

* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960315/ai_n14034147 His obituary] from "The Independent"